Tackling Digital Exclusion

Grand Union BID is launching a ground-breaking cross-company group to focus on digital exclusion in the community. The aim of the group is to map digital and data expertise among our members, their activity in the digital inclusion space and how we might innovate and develop programmes to collaborate for greater impact.

We are currently working with Westminster City Council to map need, both geographically and demographically. Indications and existing work in the digital inclusion field suggest some of the areas of need include:

• Older People – known to face exclusion as we embrace an ever-digital world, older people can be ‘locked out’ of systems which are now digital only, like some health services and Council services. There can also be big benefits to reducing social isolation if older people are assisted with basic digital skills, connecting with family and friends more easily.
• Workplace Returners – helping adult jobseekers return to the workplace through MS Office programmes, help with CVs and online applications and interviews.
• Young Parents – sometimes excluded from the labour market due to childcare costs, with low-income families also impacted by broadband costs.
• Victims of Domestic Abuse – similar to the above but with the added need to build confidence and use technology to access public sector and financial services and secure employment.
• Small Charity Partners – many of our local charities are run entirely or mostly by volunteers who do not always possess the digital skills to promote/market the charities or run events. Some needs are fairly simple, like producing a flyer or generating a QR code to advertise an event, learning how to use Eventbrite, getting to grips with basic social media or websites.
• Young offenders/ex-offenders - many ex-offenders have had limited access to education. For many ex-offenders who were incarcerated between 2005-present, they may have missed many key technological advancements and need help to close gaps in understanding.
• People facing language barriers – residents with limited English face big barriers accessing public sector services and in jobsearch. Volunteers with Arabic or French language skills are particularly sought by our library partners.
• Teachers and schools – pupils can be one step ahead of their parents and teachers when it comes to AI and digital dexterity.
• Young people and school pupils – assisting on their journey to employment, helping them learn more about AI and its application to get ahead, on their pathway to employment.
• Adults and young adults with physical and learning disabilities – facing issues of internet safety, access to devices, adaptive settings and cyber safety.

Who should attend

We know that all companies have digital skills across their organisations. We are particularly seeking representatives or team leaders with expertise in digital marketing, AI, Fintech, cyber security, insights and data analysis.

Without pre-empting the mapping exercise, opportunities for programmes could include the following:

• Hosting pupil visits to workplaces to see digital skills or AI in action and its application in the workplace.
• Visiting care homes, libraries or community hubs on a rota basis to run IT surgery sessions, with volunteers booked in by the BID on a calendar basis.
• Running a time limited project with a charity to capacity build their volunteers and give them the marketing and IT skills they need to better promote their services.
• Companies could adopt a particular project and run a rota of volunteers with different skills to tackle an issue over a period of up to six months.
• Visiting schools to run AI workshops for pupils or teachers or parents.

We would love to see companies collaborate and pool their expertise for particular projects.